Senior Director of Student Support Services

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

About The SEED School of Washington, D.C.

The SEED Foundation ( was created in 1997 to establish college-preparatory urban boarding schools that prepare secondary students both academically and socially, for success in college and beyond. In 1998, the Foundation opened The SEED Public Charter School of Washington, D.C. – the nation’s first public college preparatory boarding school. The school currently serves 250 students in grades 9-12. In 2015, 100% of SEED’s seniors were accepted to a four-year college or university.

All SEED students live on campus from Sunday evening through Friday afternoon when they return home for the weekend. The dormitories are organized into small “houses” of an average of 15-18 students per resident advisor for afternoon and evening routines such as academic study hall, house meetings, SPARKS and other structured activities. We provide a safe and caring 24-hour boarding experience. Our relationship with parents/guardians is essential to the success of their scholar while at SEED.

About The SEED Network

SEED is the pioneering national network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools, offering a unique 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. Our tuition-free schools, the first of their kind in the U.S., are intentionally designed to serve traditionally underserved students. Supported by The SEED Foundation, we operate in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, and Los Angeles. The Foundation's College Transition & Success (CTS) team provides comprehensive support to SEED graduates from junior year through college graduation. SEED's success has gained recognition from media outlets like 60 Minutes and The New York Times, and former President Obama has lauded it as "a true success story." Learn more at

Position Overview

The Senior Director of Student Support Services is a strategic leader responsible for guiding the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the school's comprehensive student support ecosystem. This includes overseeing the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), Mental Health and Wellness initiatives, Culture and Climate efforts, and Special Education services. A key focus is delivering targeted, data-informed supports across Tier 1, 2, and 3 to meet the diverse needs of all students, fostering an equitable, inclusive, and safe learning environment.

In this role, the Senior Director collaborates closely with school leadership, staff, families, community partners, and external agencies to create a proactive, responsive, and innovative support system. This leader will set strategic priorities, promote continuous improvement, and ensure alignment with the school’s long-term goals. Success in this role is measured by improved student outcomes, a positive school climate, strong stakeholder engagement, and compliance with all regulatory standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Department Leadership & Oversight

• Provide visionary leadership for the Student Support Services Department, establishing priorities that align with the school’s mission and long-term goals.
• Support, mentor, and evaluate directors to build a cohesive, high-performing team.
• Oversee resource management, including budgets and staffing, ensuring sustainability and program scalability.
• Advocate for a school-wide culture of equity, safety, and inclusion through policy development, leadership support, and system-level initiatives that promote organizational health.

Inter-departmental Collaboration and Service Management

• Oversee the delivery of high-quality, compliant programs across special education, MTSS, mental health and wellness, and school culture initiatives.
• Foster a culture of professional excellence by supporting staff development, coaching, and capacity-building initiatives that elevate service quality.
• Ensure strategic coordination and clear communication between the Special Education, Mental Health & Wellness, Culture & Climate and MTSS teams to create a cohesive and integrated support system for students
• Monitor program outcomes, gather feedback, and make data-informed adjustments to improve service quality.

Data & Continuous Improvement

• Lead comprehensive data collection and analysis across supports, behavioral outcomes, mental health, and school climate to guide decision-making.
• Utilize insights from data to evaluate the effectiveness of programs, identify areas for growth, and develop targeted strategies for enhancement.
• Establish and monitor measurable benchmarks and performance indicators aligned with the school’s strategic goals.
• Prepare and present detailed reports on program outcomes, compliance, and progress to school leadership, the Board of Directors, and external regulatory agencies.

Compliance & Reporting

• Oversee all program compliance, including timely and accurate reporting to agencies such as OSSE, DC PCSB, Medicaid, and other regulating bodies.
• Maintain detailed documentation for evaluations, incident reports, student records, and program activities.
• Monitor adherence to local, state, and federal laws, policies, and best practices governing student support, special education, and mental health services.
• Prepare and deliver reports on program outcomes, compliance status, and operational metrics for leadership and external stakeholders.

Qualifications and Essential Competencies

• Master’s degree in Education Administration, School Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Special Education, or a related field; Doctorate preferred.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive leadership experience in student support services, special education, mental health, or a related field within a PK-12 setting.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-disciplinary teams, ideally in an urban school environment.
• Extensive knowledge of federal and state laws governing special education, mental health supports, and student safety regulations.
• Proven experience developing and implementing school-wide supports, multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and culturally responsive practices.
• Experience supporting students with IEPs and managing components of the IEP process
• Strong organizational and program management skills, including experience managing budgets and resources.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build strong partnerships with families, community organizations, and external agencies.
• Proficiency with data analysis, evaluation, and reporting tools to inform decision-making and measure program success.
• Commitment to The SEED Foundation’s mission and beliefs.